Practice Policies & Patient Information
Access to Medical Records
Under the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with the relevant legislation you are entitled to have access to your medical records. We ask that you make an appointment with one of our administrative staff who will ask you to complete a consent form.
There may be occasions when your medical details are communicated to a third party, e.g. Insurance Companies; this will be done only with your written consent.
For more information please see our leaflet.
Download a copy of our consent form
Access to Medical Records Consent Form
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Complaints
We hope your experience with the practice is a positive one, but mistakes and problems can occur, and if you have a complaint we’d like to know about it so that we can investigate it and put it right.
If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the doctors or any of the personnel working in this practice, please let us know. We operate a practice complaints procedure as part of an NHS complaints system, which meets national criteria.
Data Choices
Supplementary Patient Privacy Notice on COVID 19 and your Information – Updated 22.5.20
This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. This transparency notice supplements our main practice privacy notice.
The health and social care system is facing significant pressures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Health and care information is essential to deliver care to individuals, to support health, social care and other public services and to protect public health.
Information will also be vital in researching, monitoring, tracking and managing the coronavirus outbreak. In the current emergency it has become even more important to share health and care information across relevant organisations.
This practice is supporting vital coronavirus planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital, the national safe haven for health and social care data in England.
Our legal basis for sharing data with NHS Digital
NHS Digital has been legally directed to collect and analyse patient data from all GP practices in England to support the coronavirus response for the duration of the outbreak. NHS Digital will become the controller under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR) of the personal data collected and analysed jointly with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who has directed NHS Digital to collect and analyse this data under the COVID-19 Public Health Directions 2020 (COVID-19 Direction).
All GP practices in England are legally required to share data with NHS Digital for this purpose under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (2012 Act). More information about this requirement is contained in the data provision notice issued by NHS Digital to GP practices.
Under GDPR our legal basis for sharing this personal data with NHS Digital is Article 6(1)(c) – legal obligation. Our legal basis for sharing personal data relating to health, is Article 9(2)(g) – substantial public interest, for the purposes of NHS Digital exercising its statutory functions under the COVID-19 Direction.
Your Data Matters to the NHS
Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.
How your data is used
Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.
It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.
Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.
You have a choice
You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.
Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?
No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.
What do you need to do?
If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.
To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters
Failing to attend an appointment without cancellingÂ
A large number of appointments are wasted each year by the patient not turning up for the appointment.
We all make mistakes, please ring the medical centre on 01775 715 999 if you fail to attend an appointment and we will make a record of the reason why.
We review patients who do not attend regularly and reserve the right to remove a patient from the list who fails to attend at least two appointments in a year with a clinician without reasonable explanation.
If you have a mobile phone registered with us, we will automatically send you an SMS Text message appointment confirmation when an appointment is booked for you, and will remind you the day before the appointment to help jog your memory.
If you do not want us to do this, please let us know either next time you’re in the surgery, or by calling us on 01775 715 999.
GDPR & Privacy Notices
GP Net Earnings
2020-21
We are required to report the average annual earnings of our General Practitioners, after admissible income and expenditure deductions and adjustments have been made, but before tax and National Insurance have been deducted.
It should also be noted that these figures do not reflect the amount of time that each GP spends working, and they should not be relied upon in comparing the average incomes at different practices.
For the period 2020-2021, the average earnings were £131,550 for 2 full time GP’s and 1 GP full time for 3 months.
2019-20
We are required to report the average annual earnings of our General Practitioners, after admissible income and expenditure deductions and adjustments have been made, but before tax and National Insurance have been deducted.
It should also be noted that these figures do not reflect the amount of time that each GP spends working, and they should not be relied upon in comparing the average incomes at different practices.
For the period 2019-2020, the average earnings were £117,800.
2018-19
The average pay for GPs working in Munro Medical Centre in the last financial year ended 30th June 2018 was £119,328.00 before tax and national insurance.
This is for 4 full time GPs, 0 part time GPs, and 0 Locum GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months.
However, the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.
2017-18
All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.
The average pay for GPs working in Munro Medical Centre in the last financial year ended 30th June 2018 was £119,328.00 before tax and national insurance. This is for 4 full time GPs, 0 part time GPs, and 0 Locum GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months.
However, the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.
GP Training Practice
We are proud to be a well-established training practice, helping qualified doctors, known as registrars, complete the final stages of their GP Training.
We believe that achieving and maintaining training practice status enhances the quality of the medical care that we provide at the practice, it also enables patients to see a wider range of clinicians whilst allowing the surgery to benefit from the fresh ideas and approaches brought by young enthusiastic doctors.
You can of course still elect to see your chosen regular doctor but sometimes this may require you to plan your appointment.
We have been a training practice for many years and the feedback from patients regarding our registrars has been overwhelmingly positive; the doctors tend to be in the surgery for between 6 and 12 months, becoming an integral part of the practice team and an invaluable resource for patients.
Making the Most of your AppointmentsÂ
Doctors and triage nurse appointments are normally just 10 minutes in duration.
Please remember that there may not be time to deal with lots of problems in one consultation.
Where you do have more than one problem, please let the Receptionist know when booking an appointment, and the Nurse or Doctor know at the beginning so that there is the opportunity to agree on what problems to deal with in that appointment.
Medical Records, Confidentiality & Consent
Patient Records are held both manually and on the practice computer system; all records are kept entirely confidential.
Please inform us promptly of any change of circumstances e.g. name, address or telephone number.
Patient Behaviour Not ToleratedÂ
The majority of patients work with us to positively improve their health.
We do not accept any form of verbal (or other forms of) abuse; all of our staff have the right to work in an environment free from fear of violence, and abuse from patients and/or their relatives.
Our practice has a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour.
Patients who are considered to be exhibiting unacceptable behaviour towards our staff will in most cases be informed their behaviour is unacceptable and asked to apologise to the member of staff involved, and to interact appropriately in future with our staff.
Practice Quality
The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) is a system to remunerate general practices for providing good quality care to their patients, and to help fund work to further improve the quality of health care delivered.
The QOF measures achievement against a range of evidence-based indicators, with points and payments awarded according to the level of achievement. It is a voluntary part of the new GMS Contract; general practices can aspire to achieve all, part or none of the points available in QOF.
The practice is proud to have achieved the maximum points available since the QOF was introduced.
Read more about QOF at: dhsspsni.gov.uk/qof_context
Compare us to other practices at: qof.ic.nhs.uk
We aim to have the highest standards of clinical governance.
We run an educational programme for health care professionals at the practice, and take part in regular clinical audit. We all take part in an annual appraisal and take steps to ensure that individuals take part in regular continuing professional development.
We regularly analyse our prescribing data, complaints and feedback, patient experience, and services offered.
Removal from Patient ListÂ
It is occasionally necessary to remove a patient from our list.
We reserve the right to remove patients from our list in the following instances:
- Failing repeatedly to attend appointments without cancelling
- A breakdown in the doctor-patient relationship
- Verbal Abuse
- Any type of other abuse
- Sexual or racial harassment
- Fraudulently obtaining drugs
- Deliberately lying to a member of the team (for example in order to obtain a service or benefit by deception)
- Attempting to use the doctor to conceal or aid criminal activity
- Making a complaint which is subsequently shown to be activated by malice
- Patient has moved outside of the practice designated area
Sharing Your Medical Records
Your Record-Your Choice
With so many choices to make about sharing your information how can you be sure you are making the correct choices for you and your dependants?
This leaflet aims to explain the differences between the options available, ensuring you can make a considered, informed choice. We have also included the relevant consent/dissent forms, please read these carefully before recording your preference and returning them to Reception.
Choice 1 NHS Summary Care Record (SCR)
A Summary Care Record is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had, no other medical information is held in the record.
Having this information stored in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed. Only healthcare staff will have access to this record.
Example:
You have a fall and are unconscious, an ambulance is called to take you to hospital; there is nobody with you that knows your medical history. When you get to the hospital the Dr decides you need some medicine, how does he know if the one he is about to give you will cause an allergic reaction?
If you have said YES to sharing your record the Dr will have instant access to this information and will be able to treat you accordingly.
If you say NO this could delay treatment whilst this information is requested from your GP.
Your Record-Your Choice
With so many choices to make about sharing your information how can you be sure you are making the correct choices for you and your dependants?
This leaflet aims to explain the differences between the options available, ensuring you can make a considered, informed choice. We have also included the relevant consent/dissent forms, please read these carefully before recording your preference and returning them to Reception.
Choice 2 Enhanced Data Sharing Module (EDSM)
The clinical computer system used at Munro Medical Centre is SystmOne; it is a system that is used widely in this area and across England. This system gives us a facility (EDSM) to share your health record with other health providers involved in your care.
Your health record includes your medical history, details about your medication and any allergies you may have. You can now choose whether to share these full medical details with other health provider units (for example District nurses).
Many organisations may use SystmOne including some GP practices, out of hours services, children’s services, community services and some hospitals. Sharing your health record will help us deliver the best level of care for you.
You have two choices which allow you to control how your record is shared. You can change these choices at any time by completing a consent form.
Sharing OUT
This controls whether your information recorded at this practice can be shared with other health care providers.
Sharing IN
This determines whether or not this practice can view information in your record that has been entered by other services who are providing care for you or who may provide care for you in the future.
Example:
Imagine you are receiving care from three services, your GP, a district nurse and a smoking clinic.
You want your GP and district nurse to share information with each other and you want both of them to know your progress at the smoking clinic.
However, you don’t want the smoking clinic to see any of your other medical information.
Please download the consent form and return the completed form below to the surgery so that we can update your records.
Standards of Behaviour
Our practice principles:Â
- To offer high quality health care
- To continually improve our services
- To work together as a team
What you can expect from us:Â
- To be treated in confidence, with courtesy and with respect
- To be able to ask questions and make your own decisions
- You can expect us to be courteous and professional
Summary Care Record
There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.
Why do I need a Summary Care Record?
Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.
This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.
Who can see it?
Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.
How do I know if I have one?
Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP
Do I have to have one?
No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.
More Information
For further information visit the NHS Care records website
Video Recordings – Training Practice
As a training practice video recordings are sometimes made of consultations, these are made for teaching purposes only.
Video recordings are only done with your consent and you do have the right to refuse.
However, we would stress that all aspects of general practice, including training, are governed by rules of strict confidentiality.
No examinations are filmed.